Herbicides and Bees: Cause for Concern?
Some members of the public sometimes voice their concerns over the use of herbicides to control certain invasive plants. You might be in the same boat.
“Isn’t it harmful to pollinators?”
“But what about the bees?”
Those are great questions, and a sign that you care about our environment.
To better explain the relationship between pesticides (including herbicides) and bees, the Invasive Species Council of BC recently published a factsheet, which benefitted from the input of several partners throughout the Province.
Some of the key points:
- Herbicides target plant hormones.
- Herbicides are not insecticides.
- Herbicides should not be confused with neonicotinoid insecticides, which are shown to affect bees and were associated with the colony collapse several years back.
What Can I Do?
Be(e) PlantWise. By preventing the spread of invasive plants, you can help minimize the amount of herbicie needed to eradicate them. Make sure that the plants you choose for your yard or garden boxes are not invasive by referring to SSISC’s priority species list. The PlantWise program and brochure are also great resources if you are looking for inspiration to spruce up your flower beds.
Shop judiciously. Many “wildflower” seed mixes sold in commercially in packets can be problematic. They often either contain invasive plants, or fail to list their contents by scientific name, which makes it impossible to ascertain their contents. Choosing an invasive-free seed mix is a key step to ensuring the health of our ecosystem. Check out the Grow Me Instead resources to learn more.
Add Comment